Hair braid fastener



Nov. 22, 1949 M. WINTERS 2,488,954

HAIR BRAID FASTENER Filed March 27, 1947 INVENTOR flz'w/e/cs M7525.

ATTO R N EY Patented Nov. 22, 1949 HAIR. BRAID FASTENER;

'Maurice Winters, New York, Y assignor to Bel'amere Company, Inc.,Jersey City, N. 1., a

a corporation of Delaware Application Nlarch 27, 1947', Serial N0.737,514

3 Ciaims.

This invention relates to a hair braid fastener, and more particularlyto a device to be worn in childrens and womens hair for fastening andadorning a braid.

The principal objects of the invention are: to provide a device of thistype that is simple and easy to apply; that will securely bind theplaited hair; that when applied forms an ornament for decorating thehair; and that is inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the fastener applied to a hair braid;

Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a rear plan view of the fastener laid out fiat; and,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the device in opened position.

The device comprises two cooperative fastening members and I! made ofplastic, metal, or other suitable material and shaped or formed toconstitute complementary parts of a unitary ornament [2 of any desireddesign.

The two members are permanently connected together by a flexibleelongated resilient element l3 the ends of which are secured to saidmembers. The flexible resilient connecting element l3 preferablyconsists of a single piece of elastic cord, or a rubber band, ofsuitable length secured at each end by a knot I4, or otherwise, to a luIE or the like on the back of each member H] and I I.

The member ID has a tongue 5 projecting from its front end, while themember I I has a catch I! at the corresponding end formed with aninterior recess or opening I3 into which the tongue of the companionmember may be freely inserted. The tongue I6 is preferably offsetslightly from the general plane of member it so that in fastenedrelation the backs of the two members will be substantially flush witheach other, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The tongue and catch may be of anysuitable construction that will permit of detachably or separablyfastening the two members together.

In using the device, the cord i3 is Wound sev- I eral times tightlyaround the end of the plaited hair or braid l9, and then the tongue ofthe one member is inserted into the catch of the other to fasten the twodetachably together. It will be observed that the device not only bindsthe braid end securely, but also provides an ornament thereon. Moreover,the resilience of the connecting element [3 permits of self-adjustmentof the device to braids of different thicknesses.

When the elastic cord I3 is wound tightly around the hair, and themembers Ill and H are assembled in fastened relation, the tension of thecord will tend to tilt the two members somewhat toward each other, asseen in Fig. 5. This will cause the tongue iii of member II] to bearagainst the inner surface of the outer wall of the catch I! of member Il with sufficient frictional force to prevent the two members from beingaccidentally disconnected.

Various modifications in the construction described may be made withinthe scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A hair braid fastener comprising two separable fastening membersconstituting complementary parts of a unitary ornament, one of saidparts having a tongue and the other a catch of greater width than thethickness of the tongue and into which the tongue can be inserted tounite the two members detachably, and a flexible elastic cord connectingsaid fastening members and adapted to be wound around the end of a hairbraid, whereby when the elastic cord is wrapped tightly about a braid ofhair, and the fastening members are secured together, the tension of thecord will cause the tongue to tilt relatively to the catch so as toengage the latter frictionally and thereby hold said members in fastenedposition.

2. A hair braid fastener comprising a unitary ornament member consistingof two complementary separable parts each of which constitutes afastening member, one of said parts having a tongue and the other havinga catch of greater width than the thickness of the tongue and into whichthe tongue can be inserted to unite the two parts detachably to form aunitary ornament, and a flexible elongated resilient element connectingsaid fastening members and adapted to be wound around the end of a hairbraid, whereby when the resilient element is wrapped around a braid ofhair, and the two complementary parts are secured together, the tensionof the resilient element will cause the tongue of the one part to tiltrelatively to the catch of the other so as to engage the catchfrictionally and thereby hold the two parts in fastened position.

3. A hair braid fastener comprising a unitary ornament member consistingof two complementary separable parts each of which constitutes a 3fastening member, one of said parts having a tongue and the other havinga catch of greater width than the thickness of the tongue and into whichthe tongue can be inserted to unite the two members detachably, thetongue being slightly offset from the plane of the one of said parts sothat the backs of both parts are substantially flush in fastenedrelation, and a flexible elongated resilient element connecting saidfastening members and adapted to be wound around the end of a hairbraid, whereby when the resilient element is wrapped around a braid ofhair, and the two complementary parts are secured together, the tensionof the resilient element will cause the tongue of the one part to tiltrelatively to the catch of the other so as to engage the catchfrictionally and thereby hold the two parts in fastened position.

MAURICE WINTERS.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

